OPENING TIP
The Fresno State women's basketball team returns home on Saturday to host a hot UNLV Lady Rebel squad in the Save Mart Center at 2 p.m.

The Bulldogs, who opened up league play with four straight wins but have since lost 2-of-3, look to get back on top of the Mountain West standings.

Fresno State defeated UNLV 79-63 in Las Vegas on New Year's Day to open up conference play, but since that loss the Lady Rebels have won five-straight games and currently are tied for first place in the Mountain West with Colorado State. They both have 5-1 league records while the 'Dogs are a step behind standing at 5-2 in conference play.

In the first meeting with UNLV, Fresno State used runs late in the first half and early in the second to build a lead as large as 25. The Bulldogs outscored the Lady Rebels 16-6 in the final nine minutes of the first half and then had 17-5 run early in the second half to take control of that game.

Fresno State shot a season-high 50.9 percent in that win and held the Rebels to 39 percent shooting while forcing 25 turnovers.

In its three league home games this season, the Bulldogs have held the visitors to 61.0 points per game, have hit nine more 3-pointers than the opposition and held a rebounding margin of plus-3.7.

Taylor Thompson and Bree Farley have led the Bulldogs in home games in league play. Thompson is averaging 16.0 points per game to go with 9.0 rebounds and she has 13 assists against just one turnover. Farley is averaging 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in the three home games. Both guards are shooting over 50 percent from the field in that span.

Bulldog Headlines
► Since joining the Mountain West last season, Fresno State has gone 3-0 against UNLV in league play. In last seasons home game against the Lady Rebels, the Bulldogs won 90-64 in the regular season finale.

► Saturday's game will be the eighth for Fresno State in the 18-game league slate. The Bulldogs, San Jose State and Air Force are the only teams in the league that have not had a bye in the conference's Wednesday-Saturday rotation of games. The Bulldogs will get their first idle date on Saturday, Feb. 1 after visiting Wyoming on Wednesday of next week.

► Senior guard Taylor Thompson recorded her 50th career game scoring in double figures on Wednesday at Nevada when she scored a game-high 17 points. It was her eighth consecutive game in double figures.

► Bree Farley continues to be one of the Mountain West's top shooters, as she ranks fifth in field goal percentage (.478) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (.418). Counting MW games only, she is shooting 52.2 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from the three.

Scouting UNLV (8-10, 5-1 MW)
Since losing to Fresno State on Jan. 1 to open conference play, UNLV has reeled off five-straight wins and currently sits in a tie for first place with Colorado State, one game ahead of the Bulldogs. The Rebels are 3-0 in league road games with wins at Air Force, Nevada and at Utah State on Wednesday. Four Rebels are scoring in double figures in league play with guard Danielle Miller leading the group at 15.3 points per game. For the season, UNLV has held opponents to only 65.9 points per game despite the fact the opposition is shooting 41.6 percent against the Rebels.

The Last Meeting

Fresno State

79

UNLV

63

January 1, 2014
Las Vegas, Nev.

`Dogs Open Up MW Play with 79-63 win at UNLV
Alex Sheedy scored a season-high 20 points, 14 coming in the second half that she took over to lead Fresno State in a 79-63 win at UNLV in the Mountain West opener on Wednesday inside the Cox Pavilion.

Series History with UNLV
UNLV leads the all-time series with Fresno State 15-10, but the Bulldogs have won eight of the last nine meetings in the series. The 'Dogs are 6-5 all-time when hosting UNLV in Fresno and have won four-straight at home. Head coach Raegan Pebley is 3-0 at Fresno State against the Rebels, sweeping the series last year and winning 79-63 on New Year's Day to open conference play in 2014.

This-N-That
 Over the last eight games for senior guard Taylor Thompson, she has averaged 14.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.8 steals. She scored 11 points, had six assists and three rebounds in the first meeting with UNLV.
 Sophomore center Toni Smith had a breakout game on Wednesday at Nevada, setting new career-highs in points scored (12), rebounds (seven) and minutes played (19). Fresno State was plus-10 on the scoreboard in her 19 minutes on the court in Wednesday's game.
 After shooting 45.5 percent from the field in their first four Mountain West games of the season, the Bulldogs have cooled off in their last three games and have shot 39.3 percent. The 'Dogs shot a season-high 50.9 percent in their first meeting with UNLV this year.
 In league play, Fresno State as a team is shooting 80.8 percent at the free-throw line. That is the top percentage in the conference.
 Freshman guard Emilie Volk drew the first start of her career on Wednesday at Nevada. Sophomore Moriah Faulk also drew the start against the Wolf Pack, her fifth of the year but first since Nov. 22 at Washington State.